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FIFA World Cup 2026: Here are the top players who could lead their team to glory
Showcasing a top player from each nation primed to push their team to the top at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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England
After being one of the top stars in a historic season for Arsenal, which won its first Premiere League title since 2004, the winger looks to shake off the infamous missed penalty kick in the 2020 Euro final and deliver a big moment for England. Saka will be joining a dangerous English attack that includes elite goal scorer Harry Kane.
(AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Brazil
From making viral YouTube clips showcasing his skills as a child, to representing his country on the biggest stage, Endrick is entering the tournament as one of the youngest players at the age of 19 and is projected to start on a powerhouse Brazilian squad.
(AP Photo/Ettore Chiereguini)
Germany
The joint winner of the 2024 Euro’s Golden Boot has an impressive list of accolades that includes a Champions League title at the age of 24. After missing last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, the Bayern Munich midfielder will try to establish himself as a top player for a strong German squad.
(AP Photo/Emmanuele Ciancaglini)
Ecuador
Just weeks removed from capturing his second Champions League title with PSG, the 24-year-old defender is primed to be Ecuador’s standout player after playing every minute of PSG’s latest Champions League run.
(AP Photo/Patricio Teran)
New Zealand
New Zealand is back in the World Cup after 16 years and will feature one of the youngest players in the tournament. Born in 2008, Luke Brooke-Smith could be a spark plug as an option off the bench for the All-Whites, with his pacey and agile play.
(Buda Mendes/FIFA via Getty Images)
USA
After showing proficiency for years in Germany’s top league, Reyna has not started a game for his club Borussia Mönchengladbach since December 2025 due to injury. The 23-year-old is looking for redemption after almost getting sent home by then-U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter during the 2022 World Cup for lack of effort during training.
(AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
Colombia
Diaz really took off after his transfer from Liverpool to Bayern Munich by scoring a whopping 15 goals along with 17 assists in 32 Bundesliga matches in his first season with the club. The success of this Colombian team will rest on the shoulders of their star striker.
(AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Türkiye
The 21-year-old has become an important figure for Real Madrid where he slotted four goals in 33 appearances this past season. The Turkish national team will be leaning on the young midfielder for years to come as he looks to make his mark in North America.
(Hakan Akgun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The Netherlands
Since arriving at Roma from Aston Villa in January, Malen has been exceptional by scoring 14 goals in just 18 appearances in Serie A. The Wieringen-native is projected to start upfront for ‘The Flying Dutchmen’ with ambitions of showing this past season was not a fluke.
(AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Norway
Football fans were the true winners when Norway was placed in the same group as France which means Haaland will go head-to-head with fellow world class striker Kylian Mbappé in group play. Norway could advance through the group stage on Haaland’s talent alone, so the Manchester City forward must be on the top of his game if his nation has any success.
(AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Qatar
At the age of 42, Soria will be appearing in his first World Cup after not being selected for the squad in 2022. He is expected to play behind players like Almoez Ali and Mohamed Al-Mannai, but if subbed-on Soria would be one of the oldest player to ever play in a World Cup.
(Simon Holmes/NurPhoto)
Portugal
Ronaldo is a living legend in the game and has accomplished almost everything possible in soccer except winning a World Cup. All eyes will be on CR7 as this will likely be his final time on the world stage.
(AP Photo/Armando Franca)
Uzbekistan
Khusanov became the first player from Uzbekistan to ever appear in the English Premiere League when he joined Manchester City in 2025. The 22-year-old will have to stand strong at the centre-back position in his nation’s World Cup debut.
(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba, File)
Spain
Yamal made his debut at Barcelona in 2023 as a 15-year-old and has not looked back since. The teenager has become a renowned world class winger and will spearhead the attack for an already strong Spanish squad.
(AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Iran
The two-time Iranian Player of the Year will be tasked with being a key contributor to Iran’s offence. The 33-year-old has not slowed down after his transfer to Greece’s Olympiacos by scoring 10 goals in 19 appearances during league play this season.
(AP Photo/Riza Ozel)
Scotland
The 43-year-old goalkeeper will be the second oldest player to ever appear in the World Cup if he gets the nod to start in between the sticks for Scotland. However, coming off a nagging shoulder injury could hinder his chances to see the field.
(Getty Images/Stu Forster)
Mexico
After establishing himself in Fulham’s starting XI, Jiménez is coming into this tournament just two goals behind Jared Borgetti for second in all-time goals for Mexico.
(Manuel Velasquez/ Getty Images)
Argentina
Messi put on a show the last time he was in a World Cup, scoring seven goals in seven matches including a brace in the final where he led his nation to the top of the mountain. At 38 years old, many believe this is his last time on the world stage where he hopes to add another trophy to his resume that can further cement his case of being the greatest footballer of all time.
(AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Known as one of the best Bosnian football players of all time, the 6-foot-4 striker holds the record as his country’s leading goal scorer. Now at 40 years of age, Džeko looks to carry the momentum from his team's underdog victory over Italy to qualify for the World Cup.
(AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
Belgium
Known as a world class dribbler on the wing, Doku added an FA Cup and an EFL Cup to his trophy case in 2026. With aging stars on the Belgium squad like Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, the 24-year-old looks to establish himself as a leader of the next generation of the ‘Red Devils.’
(Getty Images/Vaughn Ridley)
Algeria
Mahrez played a key part of the miracle run of Leicester City winning the English Premier League back in 2016. Now, the winger hopes to recreate the same magic with Algeria who are tasked with surviving a solid group that includes Argentina and Austria.
(AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Tunisia
For the first time in his World Cup career, Skhiri will wear the captain’s armband for his country. The 31-year-old brings Ligue 1 and Bundelisga experience to the squad and will be an anchor for Tunisia’s midfield.
(Getty Images/Vaughn Ridley)
Egypt
With the long-time Liverpool winger’s contract expiring in the upcoming transfer window, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding which club he will play for next. The Egyptian captain will have to block out the noise to lead the way as the offensive dynamo he can be for his nation.
(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Korea
The 29-year-old became the most expensive Asian footballer in history in 2023 when he was transferred to Bayern Munich for approximately $80.3 million. Min-jae looks to be one of the brightest breakout stars in the World Cup after having only 19 starts with Bayern Munich in league play this season.
(AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Austria
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder is arriving in North America with three goals in the past three matches for his country. Sabitzer will be joined by veteran countrymen like David Alaba and Marko Arnautović in hopes to make some noise at Austria’s first World Cup since 1998.
(AP Photo/Heinz-Peter Bader)
South Africa
Only a teenager when the World Cup came to his home country in 2010, Williams has played in more than 60 matches with South Africa head of his first World Cup. The 34-year-old goalkeeper looks captain his team to victory in the opening match of the tournament against Mexico.
(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Jordan
Over a thousand players will have the honour to represent their countries in the 2026 World Cup and only eight of them are coming from the K League in Korea. That’s where the Jordanian footballer has established himself as a steady defender for FC Seoul and will have the duty of stifling the attack of premiere players within Group J.
(Gerrit van Keulen/Soccrates Images/Getty Images)
Cabo Verde
Mendes will be captaining Cabo Verde in the nation’s first-ever World Cup. The 36-year-old winger made his first appearance with the Blue Sharks in 2010, and 16 years later he will finally have the chance to play alongside his countrymen on the world stage.
(Phil Walter/FIFA via Getty Images)
Curacao
The 34-year-old Bacuna brings a veteran presence to an underdog Curacao squad. Sitting second in all-time international goals for his country, the former Aston Villa midfielder brings a long resume of experience to a young squad.
(AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Uruguay
One of the best box-to-box midfielders in the game, Valverde entered his prime since his arrival to Real Madrid. The two-time Champions League title winner brings experience of playing on the biggest stages in Europe that could propel Uruguay to a deep run in the World Cup.
(AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Panama
The Golden Ball winner at the 2023 Gold Cup will have a lot of influence in his country’s success at the world stage. The man they call “Coco” will dictate the tempo of Panama’s play with his signature creativity in the midfield.
(AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Senegal
With two Champions League trophies under his belt at the age of 18, Mbaye added international success to his resume after helping Senegal defeat Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations in January. The PSG prodigy will be leaned on to get Senegal past the round of 16 where they lost at the hands of England in 2022.
(AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Australia
With transfer rumours swirling, Irankunda is projected to become the most expensive Australian footballer ever after an impressive 2025-26 campaign in England’s second-tier league. Watford’s winger brings a skillset of rapid pace and precise dribbling for the Aussies at the World Cup.
(THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Christopher Katsarov)
Japan
The Real Sociedad winger looks to bounce back from a 2022 World Cup where he was subbed off at half time in both of his two appearances. Kubo is coming off a Copa del Rey title victory with his club and hopes to push Japan to a deep World Cup run with his high-octane playstyle.
(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Haiti
The Haitian striker was the hero in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifier where he scored a hat-trick to salvage a draw against Costa Rica. Duckens leads ‘Les Grenadiers’ in all-time goals scored with 44 goals in 76 appearances.
(Getty Images/ Vaughn Ridley)
Morrocco
Considered as ‘the best right-back in the world’ by former England star Rio Ferdinand, Hakimi brings his Champions League experience to this 2026 Moroccan squad. He will look to bring his nation back to the World Cup semifinal after their historic run in 2022.
(AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Ivory Coast
Fresh off switching allegiances to play for Ivory Coast, the French-born striker will don the orange and green for the first time at the World Cup. Bonny also played a big part in Inter Milan winning the Serie A title this season with 5 goals in 30 appearances.
(AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Sweden
The Arsenal striker is headed into the World Cup after a bitter-sweet past couple of weeks by winning an English Premier League title and losing in the Champions League final. Sweden’s national team is hoping the attacking pair of Gyökeres and Liverpool’s Alexander Isak will translate in late-stage success in the tournament.
(AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
Czechia
Krejci played the hero for Czechia in the European World Cup qualifiers with a late equalizer against the Republic of Ireland. Now, the Watford defender will be leading his country as captain at the age of 27.
(AP Photo/Vit Tcherny)
Croatia
Concerns surrounded the Manchester City star leading up to the World Cup due to a broken leg that left him sidelined for several months. However, the defender looks like he will be back and ready to be a rock in Croatia’s backline.
(AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
France
Arguably the best forward in the game today, Mbappé will be captaining his nation in the World Cup for the first time. The Real Madrid star is looking to repeat the same success of 2018 where he posted four goals in seven matches leading the French to their second World Cup win.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Iraq
Hussein played a monumental part in Iraq’s World Cup qualification by scoring eight goals during that campaign, including the game-winner against Bolivia to punch their ticket to compete in North America. The 30-year-old striker must harness his recent form in international play for Iraq to compete in a talented Group I.
(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Switzerland
Fresh off leading Sunderland back to European competition for the first time in 53 years, the Swiss captain looks to bring his intense playstyle to the world stage. With his nation primed for a top two finish in Group B, the defensive midfielder looks to lead the way for the ‘Red Crosses’ along side Manuel Akanji and Gregor Kobel.
(AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Paraguay
Almirón is set to make his first appearance at the world stage after winning a MLS Cup title in 2018. With Paraguay entering their first World Cup since 2010, the Atlanta United captain is looking to play a key part to his nation’s success.
( AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Saudi Arabia
The 2025 Asian Football Confederation Player of the Year is also the co-leader in all-time World Cup goals for Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Pro League standout will look to play a huge role in Saudi Arabia’s success in the tournament with his prolific goal scoring ability.
(AP Photo)
Congo DR
The Congo captain has won league titles all over the world during his playing time in Portugal, Belgium and England. The centre-back brings a winning prowess to an experienced Congolese squad hoping to upset Group K’s top teams.
(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Ghana
The pacey forward will be suiting up for the Black Stars after a season with Athletic Bilbao where he totalled three goals in 30 matches. Williams will look to have a productive showing after going goal-less in the 2022 World Cup that resulted in Ghana failing to make it out of the group stage.
(Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Canada
Coming into the tournament after an injury-riddled season with Bayern Munich, there are many concerns surrounding the Champion League winner’s fitness. When healthy, Davies is a world-class fullback who has the ability to be a leading force in pushing Canada past the World Cup group stage for the first time ever.
(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)